Ladle stopper



May112, 1970' 'f" 1. @0551 3,511,471

LADLE [STOPPER I FiledJan. 19, 1968 s SheetS -Sheet 1 FIG! INVENTOR.IRVING ROSSI BY j Z M Mam/M ATTORNEYS 3,511,471 LADLE STOPPER IrvingRossi, Morristown, N.J., assignor to Concast, Inc., New York, N.Y. FiledJan. 19, 1968, Ser. No. 699,265 Int. Cl. F16k /00, 5 /22 U.S. Cl.251-144 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present inventionrelates generally to ladles, or other vessels, for molten metal andparticularly to stoppers for the outlet openings of such vessels.

Stoppers for ladles, or other vessels of the type under consideration,are usually steel rods covered with refractory sleeves, such asfireclay, that are supprted vertically in the vessels with their lowerends adapted to seat in outlet openings through the bottoms of thevessels and are raised and lowered to open and close the outlet. Inoperation they are subjected to severe physical and thermal shock andtheir lower ends rapidly become chipped and worn, permitting leakage.Also the refractory sleeves erode rapidly exposing the core rod at theslack line of molten metal in the vessel. Consequently, these stopperrods must usually be replaced after each heat, which is expensive.

It has been proposed to mount a sliding plate on the underside of thevessel for closing and opening the outlet, but these sliding gates havenot been satisfactory. They must be finely ground and closely fitted tothe surface of the vessel across which they are adapted to slide;otherwise molten metal leaks out around them. In addition, metal tendsto stick to the portion of the gate over the outlet opening in closedposition and prevents or impedes sliding of the gate to open the outlet.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a stopperwhich does not have these drawbacks. Specifically, it is an object toprovide a stopper that is effective for closing and opening the outletwithout excessive wear, so as to provide a stopper which need not bereplaced as often as the rod type.

Another object is to provide a sliding stopper that can be openedwithout having to apply excessive force even if metal sticks to theportion of the stopper which covers the outlet in its closed position.

A stopper in accordance with this invention comprises generally a blockof refractory material rotatively supported with one surface in contactwith the outside surface of the vessel around the circumference of theoutlet opening in the vessel. The block has an open-ended passage withone end of the passage through the surface of the block in contact withthe vessel and arranged to coincide with the outlet opening of thevessel in one position of rotation of the block. When the block isrotated to another position another portion of said surface is UnitedStates Patent 0 over the outlet opening and closes it. The walls of theables the block to be moved to open position, even if some metal sticksto the portion over the outlet opening of the vessel, without having toapply a great deal of extra force to shear the sticking metal off thegate.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent in thefollowing detailed description of examples of stoppers which embody thefeatures of the invention and which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view of a vertical section through the outlet opening in thebottom of a vessel illustrating one form of stopper, embodying thefeatures of the present invention, mounted on the vessel;

FIG. 2 is a view along the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing another form of outletopening in the bottom of the vessel with a second form of stopperembodying the invention;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the stopper shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is another view similar to FIG. 1 but showing still another formof outlet opening and a third form of stopper embodying the invention.

FIG. 6 is still another view similar to FIG. 1, but showing a fourthform of stopper embodying the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the stopper shown in FIG. 6.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a section of the bottom 10of a vessel for molten metal is shown to illustrate the portion of thebottom which has an outlet opening 11 therethrough. The remainder of thevessel is omitted since suitable structure for ladles, and othermolten-metal-containing vessels, are well known and form no part of theinstant invention. Numeral 12 desigates the bottom plate of the vessel;numeral 13 designates a lining of refractory material. The outletopening 11 is defined by a bushing 14 of refractory material through thelining in line with a hole 15 through an insert 16 of refractorymaterial, such as graphite-alumina, which is fixed is an appropriateopening in the bottom plate 12. As seen in FIG. 2, the upper portion 17of the insert 16, and the opening in which it is fixed, are shaped toresist rotation relative to the bottomfor this purpose, they may behexagonal shape as shown. The lower portion of the insert 16 is acircular protuberance 18 with the hole 15, which forms part of theoutlet opening 11, opening through the protuberance at one side (left)of the center line 19 thereof.

In accordance with the invention, the stopper for the opening 11 isprovided by a block 20 of refractory material having a surface 21 incontact with the outside surface of the vessel around the circumferenceof the opening of the outlet 11. In this instance the outside surface ofthe vessel around the outlet 11 is the lower surface of the protuberance18 and the surface 21 of the block is concavely contoured to match, andfit closely against it.

The block 20 is supported to rotate relatively around the center line 19of the protuberance 18 so that in one position of rotation of the blocka hole 23 through the block coincides with and opens the outlet opening11, and so that when the block is rotated to another position, a portionof its surface 21 is over the outlet 11 to close it. The block 20illustrated in FIG. 1 is shown with alternative hole 23' through anotherportion of the block in position to be moved into coincidence with theoutlet opening 11, alternatively to the hole 23, for unstopping theoutlet.

As indicated in the drawing, hole 23, and alternate hole 23, and thelower portion of the hole 15 through the protuberance 18 are preferablybevelled to flare slightly toward the outside to reduce the possibilityof metal passing through the outlet 11 and hole 23 or 23 from stickingto the side walls of the outlet passage.

As shown in FIG. 1, suitable means for rotatively supporting the block20 comprises an annular outward-projecting flange 25 around the sides ofthe block. This flange 25 extends over an annular flange 26, whichprojects inward from a flange ring 27. The flange ring 27 is suitablysecured on the bottom plate 12 of the vessel by bolts 28, or otherconventional fastening device. Means, such as coil springs (not shownaround the bolts 28 between the bolt heads and the flange ring 27 in themanner illustrated in FIG. 6, may be provided to hold the block 20against the insert 16 under spring pressure that is adjusted'to resistthe ferrostatic pressure of metal in the vessel when the block 20 is inclosed position. Such springs also provide self-regulating compensationfor heat expansion of the relatively-sliding parts. A loose ring 29 (orother suitable friction-reducing means, such as ball bearings) seated inappropriate annular grooves in the opposed underside of flange 25 andupper side of flange 26 are provided to facilitate rotation of the block20 around the flange 26.

As shown in FIG. 1, the sides and part of the bottom of block 20 arecarried in, and supported by a metal basket 30, the flange 25 being theupper, outwardly-directed edge of the basket. The block 20 is fixedagainst independent rotation realtive to the basket by being cementedtherein, by pegs or set screws (not shown) or by other conventionalmeans. One or more lugs or handles 31 may be provided on the side of thebasket 30 as means to rotate the block 20 for opening and closing theoutlet 11.

Rotation of the block 20 relatively around the protuberance 18 is madeeasier by placing friction-reducing material at the interface betweenthe surface 21 of the block and the surface of the protuberance 18. Forexample, one or both of the contacting surfaces may be provided with anoverlay of a stainless steel foil, indicated at 32. Alternatively, or inaddition, powdered refractory material, talc powder or otherheat-resistant lubricating powder may be sprinkled on one or bothcontacting surfaces.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a second form of the stopper for use with an outletopening 11. In this form, the lower portion of the outlet opening 11 hastwo branches 11a and 11b, opening through the lower portion of theprotuberance 18 respectively at opposite sides of the center line 19.The hole through the block 20 is provided by a hole 35 opening throughthe center of the block at the bottom and flaring out to provide anelongated opening through the surface 21 of the block (indicated by dash7 lines in FIG. 4) to coincide with the branches 11a and 11b of theoutlet 11 when the block is rotated to the position shown in FIGS. 3 and4.

, FIG. illustrates a modified insert 16a, having a hole 15a in line withthe outlet opening 11 of a vessel, and a third form of stopper embodyingthe invention. In this instance the underside of the refractory insert16a is flush with the bottom plate -12 of the vessel and surface 21a ofthe block 20a, in contact therewith, is correspondingly contoured (i.e.,fiat, as shown). The block 20a is suitably supported to rotate about itscenter by flanges 25 and 26 as described with reference to FIG. 1. Thebevelled hole 23a through the block 20a is at one side of the sidecenter line 36 and the block is placed and supported on the bottom ofthe vessel for its hole 23a to coincide with and open the outlet opening11 in one position of rotation; the outlet opening 11 is covered, andthus stopped, by a portion of the block surface 21a, when the block isrotated, around center line 36 to another position.

A fourth form of stopper embodying the invention is shown in FIGS. 6 and7. In this instance a support plate 37 is welded to the bottom plate 12of the vessel and has a hole 38 coinciding with an appropriate openingthrough the bottom plate 12 for the outlet opening 11. As in theembodiments previously described the vessel has a lining 13 ofrefractory material and the outlet opening 11 is defined by a bushing 14whichis also of refractory material.

The bottom of the support plate 37 is flat and the block 40 ofrefractory material, which provides the stopper, is mounted on a baseplate 39 which in turn is removably mounted on the support plate 37. Asseen in FIG. 7, the periphery of the base plate 39 is a six sidedpolygon, with three short sides respectively between three long sides,and at alternate three sides (the three short sides in the drawing) theedges of the base plate 39 are provided with deep square notches 43,into which blocks 44 projecting down from the support plate 37 arereceived when the base plate 39 is in proper position relative to thesupport plate 37. The blocks 44 project down below the notches and havehorizontal, transverse keyways 45 through them, to receive keys 46,which are suitably wedge shaped to be carried through the keyways 45 andwedged against the bottom surfaces of the base plate 39 at oppositesides of the notches 43 for holding the base plate 39 firmly against thesupport plate 37.

A projection 47, outward from one edge of the base plate, has adownward-projecting block 48 and the ends of a peg 49, fixedtransversely through the block by a set screw 50, extend out fromopposite sides of the block. When the base plate 39 is in position onthe support plate 37, the block 48 is received between a pair of ears 51projecting down from the support plate 37 with their lower endsextending below the lower end of the block 48, and the ends of the peg49 are received in elongated vertical slots 52 in the ears. As shown,one side of each slot 52 is open through an edge of the respective ears51 for the ends of the peg 49 to enter the slots when the base plate 39is positioned, and the top and bottom ends of the slots 52 aresemi-circular to conform to the circumference of the peg 49. With thisarrangement, when the base plate 39 is loosened by removing the keys 46,the base plate is let down until the ends of the peg 49 rest in thecurved bottom ends of the slots 52 which provide a supporting pivotholding the base plate at one edge and permitting the plate to swingdown to a vertical position for repair or replacement of the elementscarried thereon.

The central portion of the base plate 39 has a downward-projectingannular protuberance 54 on its underside. A hole 55 through the baseplate is stepped with its smaller end opening eccentrically through theprotuberance. A stepped bushing 56, of refractory material and having abore 57 therethrough, is shaped to be received in hole 55 and is heldtherein by a retaining ring 58 attached on the base plate, in anappropriate annular undercut portion, by bolts 59. As shown, the blocks44 are located on the support plate 37 to position the base plate 39with the bore 57 of bushing 56 in line with the hole 38 through thesupport plate 37.

The lower end of the bushing 56 projects slightly below the bottomsurface of the protuberance 54 and the block 40 of refractory material,having a hole 61 eccentrically therethrough, is supported against thebottom of the bushing by an annular basket 62, in which the block 40 iscarried, and which has an opening 63 through the bottom to expose theopening of hole 61 in the block 40. The block 40 may be fixed againstrelative rotation in the basket 62 by having a circumference other thanround or by being cemented therein. The basket 62 is supportedconcentric to the protuberance 54 by an annular outward-turned upperedge 65 slidably supported on inward-extending annular flange 66 of aring 67 fastened on the base plate 39 by bolts 68. through the ringthreaded into the base plate. Coil springs 69 around the bolts 68.between their heads and the ring 67, urge the bushings upward to holdblock 40 in basket 62 firmly against the lower end of the bushing 56.The pressure of the springs 69 is adjusted, by tightening or looseningbolts 68, so as to permit rotation of the block 40 relative to thebushing 56 but to prevent the block from being pushed down and separatedfrom the bushing by the ferrostatic pressure of metal in the vesselbearing against the block 40 when the latter is in closed position. Thesprings 69 also provide compensation for heat expansion of the parts,which move relative to each other, so that they will not become bound inone position.

The ring 67 is preferably made of a low-friction material, such asbronze, to facilitate rotation of the basket 62, and hence the block 40on flange 66; alternative or supplementary lubricating means, such aspo\vdered lubricant placed at the interface between the flange 66 andthe edge 65 of the basket 62, could also be used. Thus the basket 62 andblock 40 are rotatable about the center line of the protuberance 54 fromthe open position, shown in the drawing, in which the hole 61 in theblock 40 coincides with the bore 57 of the bushing 56 to open the outletfrom the vessel, to closed position in which a solid portion of theblock 40 is over the bottom end of the bore 57. Means, such as a handlebar 70 attached across the outward end of a block 71, which is on thebottom of the basket 62, is provided for rotating the basket and block.

What is claimed is:

1. A stopper for an outlet opening of a vessel for molten metal whereinsaid outlet opening is formed by an outlet passage opening through theoutward end portion of a circular protuberance on said vessel at oneside of the center line through said protuberance, said stoppercomprising a block of refractory material having a surface concavelycontoured to encompass and be in contact with the surface of saidoutward end portion of the protuberance, and means supporting the blockfor rotation relatively around said center line of the protuberance incontact with the protuberance for said surface of the block to be slidrelatively across the surface of the protuberance which is around theopening of said outlet passage therethrough, said block having an openended passage therethrough with one end opening through its said surfaceto coincide with the opening of the outlet passage through theprotuberance in one position of rotation, whereby said outlet passage ofthe vessel is opened by rotating the block to said one position andclosed by rotation of the block to another position.

2. The stopper of claim 1 including friction-reducing means between saidcontacting surfaces.

3. The stopper of claim 2 in which said friction-reducing meanscomprises a thin layer of metal on at least one of said contactingsurfaces.

4. The stopper of claim 1 in which said protuberance projects downwardand in which said means for supporting said block comprises a firstannular bearing surface on a first member attached to said block, saidfirst bearing surface being concentrically around the block and restingon a second annular bearing surface, said second bearing surface beingon a second member supported on a vessel and being concentrically aroundthe protuberance.

5. The stopper of claim 1 which includes: a plate member having anoutlet passage opening therethrough and being removably attached to saidvessel with said outlet passage coinciding with the outlet opening ofthe vessel said protuberance being on said plate with said outletpassage opening through its outward end portion at one side of itscenter line, said block being rotatively supported on said plate memberwith said surface of the block in contact with and slidable relativelyacross the surface of the protuberance of the plate member thatsurrounds the opening at the outlet passage therethrough for the passagethrough the block to coincide with the opening of the outlet passagethrough the plate member in one rotative position of the block and forthe block to cover the latter opening when the block is rotated toanother position, and adjustable spring means urging said contactingsurfaces together for resisting separation of said surfaces by pressureof metal in the vessel and for yielding to compensate for heat expansionof said surfaces.

6. The stopper of claim 5 in which said block is rotatively supported onthe plate by a first annular flange mounted concentrically on the blockand having a bearing surface resting on said supported by a bearingsurface of a second annular flange that is mounted on the plate member,and in which said second annular flange is mounted on the plate memberby mounting means including said spring means, said spring means beingarranged for urging said bearing surface of the second flange towardsaid bearing surface of the first flange.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,338,001 4/1920 Cordes 251--144X 3,165,795 1/1965 Bahm 25 l304 X 3,377,006 4/ 1968 Bahm 222-554 X3,386,633 6/1968 Nadrich et a1 251-144 X M. CARY NELSON, PrimaryExaminer W. R. CLINE, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.

